Who is Moeders voor Moeders?
Moeders voor Moeders is part of the pharmaceutical company Aspen API and has been giving hope to women struggling to conceive for generations. Every year, thousands of pregnant women donate their urine for several weeks, from which we sustainably extract the hCG hormone. We supply this to manufacturers of fertility medications for human use.
Why do we do this
Our initiative is all about solidarity among women. We believe in the power of mutual support. Pregnant women can help other women who long to have children by donating their urine. This simple act can offer hope to prospective parents dealing with fertility problems. As a pregnant woman, you can be an unsung heroine in someone else's life. We provide the necessary support to make this possible.
Moeders voor Moeders is part of the pharmaceutical company Aspen API in Oss. Our mission is to recruit as many donors as possible so that we can help as many women as possible with fertility issues to conceive. In fact, 1 in 6 couples rely on fertility treatments to achieve pregnancy, and a significant amount of urine is needed for these treatments. Every single drop counts! We are incredibly grateful to every woman who donates her urine to us.
A fertile history
For more than 90 years, pregnant women have been giving other women hope for a fertile future. It’s a unique tradition that we’re very proud of. We understand that collecting urine may seem a bit odd, but Dutch women have been doing it since 1931—though things were done a little differently back then.
The story begins in 1931 under the title "Urine Collection Organon," which was later officially named 'Pregnyl Acquisition.' Thirty-five years later, on October 1, 1966, it became 'Moeders voor Moeders.' The core of the matter is that in 1927, Organon discovered that the urine of pregnant women contains hormones. Four years after that discovery, and following necessary preparations, a group of men from Oss and the surrounding area—known as "pismannekes" (urine men)—began collecting urine from pregnant women. In the beginning, this was done with a cart, and later with a horse and wagon. When a woman discovered she was pregnant, she was asked to collect and save her urine. The hormone hCG, extracted from the urine, stimulates ovulation in women. The product Organon created is called Pregnyl, and it has been (and still is) primarily used in IVF treatments ("test-tube babies"). Contact with pregnant women was initially made through midwives, maternity nurses, and nurses. Soon, specially trained ambassadors, now known as advisors, joined them.
The 1950s
After the war, horse-drawn wagons were replaced by cars. Over the years, the crates and bottles have also changed frequently. However, the factory where all the urine is processed is still in the same location. The urine processing method has been refined and improved many times over the years.
Women with a mission
Moeders voor Moeders is constantly seeking new participants, which requires a large network of motivated individuals. In the early decades, contacts were made through midwives, maternity nurses, and nurses. Additionally, a large network of advisors (then called "acquisition agents") quickly emerged. Through a phone intake, these advisors explain to pregnant women how the participation process works. They also maintain contact with midwives, GPs, and their assistants. This wasn’t always straightforward, as Sister Vermeulen noticed around 1960 when she traveled by Solex in her crisp white nurse's apron as an acquisition agent. Upon finally arriving at the home of a potential participant, the pregnant farmer’s daughter refused to join, saying, "A medicine made from urine? That’s impossible!"
It still happens that people know of Moeders voor Moeders but don't fully understand what it is, leading to delays in signing up, or not signing up at all. Some women prefer not to have urine picked up from their home. In such cases, an alternative collection address can be arranged. It’s important that women are well-informed about Moeders voor Moeders, what we do, and what participation entails so that we can help as many prospective parents as possible.
Advisors encounter many wonderful stories. Often, they are the first to hear about a pregnancy. "And you always meet happy women with beautiful stories," says one of them. All of the advisors are highly motivated. "We make women aware that during the early stages of their pregnancy, they can offer another woman the chance to become a mother. If you have the good fortune to get pregnant, and you can pass that on in such a simple way, it’s truly amazing!"
The name Moeders voor Moeders
On October 1, 1966, the Pregnyl Acquisition by Organon continued under a new name: Moeders voor Moeders. According to legend, the name was created in a moment of frustration. In an office, surrounded by cigarette smoke, papers scattered across the table, ties loosened, tempers flaring because no one could come up with a suitable name, the group was ready to quit. Words were thrown around in hopes of sparking an idea, with everyone shouting "No, not that!" at each suggestion. One person gave up, causing a chair to topple over. As he was leaving, he said, "I’m going to my mother’s." At that moment, someone almost despairingly muttered, "Moeders voor Moeders" (Mothers for Mothers), and in the ensuing silence, the name was born.
